HB 4005 increases risk for West Virginia's working children. The legislation largely eliminates state-level protections defining hazardous occupations too dangerous for all minors to work in. In addition, the bill eliminates state-level protections limiting the time children can work with dangerous machinery, as well as requirements for direct supervision of dangerous work. READ THE FULL…
Income and Work
Mountain State Spotlight - Rachel Propst’s maternity leave ended long before she was ready to go back to work. Read the full article. After a traumatic birth that resulted in weeks off work without pay, the Harrison County English teacher quit her job and took day-to-day substitute work, so she could care for her newborn…
West Virginia Watch, Huntington Herald Dispatch - West Virginia lawmakers across the political spectrum tend to agree on the importance of prioritizing state policies that will expand our economy, increase incomes for families, and boost jobs. And understandably so, as the economy and cost of living are generally the top issues for their constituents and…
Please note: This analysis was conducted by the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development in partnership with The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. Introduction Paid family and medical leave policies are proven to strengthen families’ economic security, support the health and wellbeing of children and parents,…
For Immediate Release: December 1, 2025 Contact: Sean O'Leary Charleston, WV – Over the summer, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1), which includes a temporary “no tax on tips” provision framed as helping low-wage workers, while the rest of the legislation provides huge, permanent tax cuts to the wealthy and makes the largest cuts to…
Introduction Amid an extended period of high inflation and a slowing economy, voters and politicians alike are looking for policies to make life more affordable for workers and families. READ THE FULL POLICY BRIEF. During the summer of 2025, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1), which included a temporary “no tax on…
WRNR - Check out this interview to hear WVCBP senior policy analyst, Sean O'Leary, discuss his recent report, State of Working West Virginia 2025: The State of the Public Sector.
For Immediate Release: November 5, 2025 Contact: Renee Alves Charleston, WV – Each year the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy releases our annual State of Working West Virginia report, which examines the Mountain State’s economy through the lens of its workers—the people who power our state and economy. While each year’s report has a slightly different focus, one consistent…
Introduction The State of Working West Virginia 2025 is the 18th edition of an annual series that examines West Virginia’s economy through the lens of its workers–the people whose labor powers the state and our economy. While each year’s report has a different focus, examining data on topics such as employment, income, racial and gender…
WVVA - In a list ranking all of the states in the nation, the mountain state is coming in dead last when it comes to best places to work. Read the full article. West Virginia is ranked as the worst state in the United states. The study focused on two areas: Job market statistics and economic environment…